It's Okay to Be Confused

As I wandered around MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) in Hobart during the Summer, I remember feeling confused in every sense of the word. I didn’t understand the art or how various pieces on display fitted together, and I kept getting lost as I made my way through the exhibition floors. 

In one room, there was an actual composer writing music from scratch, in another a giant metal blob like sculpture with optical illusions inside it. If you’ve ever visited MONA, you’ll know what I’m talking about. It was a cacophony of sounds, experiences, shapes and colours, with every piece different from the next. 

But as I continued exploring the museum, I started to realise that feeling confused was quite possibly the point. 

Sometimes things just don’t make sense, and that’s okay.

We’re made to feel like we should always have everything figured out, whether that’s our careers, relationships or view points on key issues. But most of the time we don’t, and it’s important to be okay with that. 

When we prematurely try and make sense of things without giving ourselves time to breathe and explore, we cut off opportunities, pathways and ideas that might have otherwise come our way. 

By giving ourselves more time in the “I’m so confused” zone, we actually allow ourselves to grow and develop. Because once we choose a career, friend or opinion that we’re feeling sure about, we begin to cut off many of the other choices around us (whether we’re conscious of it or not). 

So embrace the confusing zone. 

Let yourself sit in it for as long as you need. Ask for help and try new things.

It’s okay not to know the answers to every question the world throws at you (and even the ones you throw at yourself). 

Settle in and get comfortable with the uncertainty and confusion in your life. It’s a wild ride, but worth sticking with until you find clarity at your own pace.